Chester Schmitz/Monette

Scott Sutherland · Post by **Scott Sutherland** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:38 pm

Which Monette mouthpiece did Chester end up using most with his 6/4 Hirsbrunner? What about the Yamaha 822 F?

Thanks for your help.

Kenneth Sturgeon · Post by **Kenneth Sturgeon** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:45 pm

He mostly used the Monette 94 on his Hirsbrunner and the 94F on his Yamaha. He may have used some of the later models like the 98 and 99, but when they came out with the 98 he told me it was to large refering to the cup volume. I don't know about the 99. I have the 94, 95 and the 99 CC and the 94F. Hope this helps.

Ken S.

8vabasso · Post by **8vabasso** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 6:14 pm

He used his Alexander F.

Jobey Wilson · Post by **Jobey Wilson** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:35 pm

Bill Nazarro and I were in Chester's last studio at NEC ('99-'01), and Bill is absolutely correct about his equipment. By the end of my time with Chester, I was set up with the same equipment...pre-PT B&S Symphonie F with Monette 94F, and a vintage Alexander with the 99-1 (though Chester usually played his Yorkbrunner & 98 with the BSO). I no longer use Monette mouthpieces, but with embouchure problems at the time, they were the right mouthpieces for me; they force you to play with an extremely solid embouchure (decrease pivoting and other movement).

Kenneth Sturgeon · Post by **Kenneth Sturgeon** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:42 am

I should have clarified my time period with Chester on my post above. I was at NEC studying with him from '93 - '95. If your question was what did he use the most over a period of time, then it was the 94 and 94F since they were first to come out on the Monette line. If you are refering to what he prefered to use the most overall, then I'm guessing the 99 and 94F. He definitely did use the 94F on his Yamaha 822. The solo in The Banquet from Hook on the Williams on Williams Pop's CD is him using the Yamaha with the 94F if you want to hear an example.
I didn't communicate with him a great deal since I graduated, and our conversations were not focused on mouthpiece equipment. So, the other students above would have the accurate destimony on the equipment he used in his last years with the BSO. In the end, he sounded amazing on any mouthpiece or tuba he used. I sorely miss his playing.

Ken S.

Jobey Wilson · Post by **Jobey Wilson** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:04 pm

Amen, Ken...hit the nail right on the head.